“An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like a machine. A money machine.”
- June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962
- American
- Actress, Singer, Model, Pop Culture Icon
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Quote
“An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like a machine. A money machine.”
Explanation
In this powerful quote, Marilyn Monroe exposes the dehumanizing treatment of performers within the entertainment industry, particularly of women. By stating that “an actress is not a machine,” she affirms the human complexity, emotional depth, and vulnerability that come with the craft of acting. Yet she immediately contrasts this with the industry’s tendency to reduce her to a mechanical object—valuable only for generating profit.
The term “money machine” underscores the way Monroe and others like her were often seen not as artists, but as commodities. Her beauty, fame, and persona were marketed and monetized, frequently without regard for her mental health or creative input. This statement reflects her frustration with a system that used her image while silencing her voice, expecting performance without pause, emotion without breakdown, and perfection without humanity.
Today, this quote remains deeply relevant as conversations about exploitation, burnout, and mental health in creative industries continue to grow. From child actors to global celebrities, many still face the same pressures Monroe described. Her words serve as a sobering reminder that art cannot be mass-produced, and people are not machines—and that treating them as such erodes both the art and the soul behind it.
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